Serving cell mobility information for vehicle-mounted relays

ABSTRACT

A wireless terminal of a cellular telecommunication system communicates with an access node via a cell and comprises receiver circuitry and processor circuitry. The receiver circuitry is configured to receive, from the cell, serving cell mobility information. The processor circuitry configured to determine, based on the serving cell mobility information, mobility state of the cell.

CROSS REFERENCE

This Nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 onprovisional Application No. 63/125,868 on Dec. 15, 2020, the entirecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technology relates to wireless communications, and particularly tomobile base stations and operations thereof.

BACKGROUND ART

A radio access network typically resides between wireless devices, suchas user equipment (UEs), mobile phones, mobile stations, or any otherdevice having wireless termination, and a core network. Example of radioaccess network types includes the GRAN, GSM radio access network; theGERAN, which includes EDGE packet radio services; UTRAN, the UMTS radioaccess network; E-UTRAN, which includes LongTerm Evolution; and g-UTRAN,the New Radio (NR).

A radio access network may comprise one or more access nodes, such asbase station nodes, which facilitate wireless communication or otherwiseprovides an interface between a wireless terminal and atelecommunications system. A non-limiting example of a base station caninclude, depending on radio access technology type, a Node B (“NB”), anenhanced Node B (“eNB”), a home eNB (“HeNB”), a gNB (for a New Radio[“NR”] technology system), or some other similar terminology.

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (“3GPP”) is a group that, e.g.,develops collaboration agreements such as 3GPP standards that aim todefine globally applicable technical specifications and technicalreports for wireless communication systems. Various 3GPP documents maydescribe certain aspects of radio access networks. Overall architecturefor a fifth generation system, e.g., the 5G System, also called “NR” or“New Radio”, as well as “NG” or “Next Generation”, is shown in FIG. 16 ,and is also described in 3GPP TS 38.300. The 5G NR network is comprisedof NG RAN, Next Generation Radio Access Network, and 5GC, 5G CoreNetwork. As shown, NGRAN is comprised of gNBs, e.g., 5G Base stations,and ng-eNBs, i.e., LTE base stations. An Xn interface exists betweengNB-gNB, between (gNB)-(ng-eNB) and between (ng-eNB)-(ng-eNB). The Xn isthe network interface between NG-RAN nodes. Xn-U stands for Xn UserPlane interface and Xn-C stands for Xn Control Plane interface. A NGinterface exists between 5GC and the base stations, i.e., gNB & ngeNB. AgNB node provides NR user plane and control plane protocol terminationstowards the UE, and is connected via the NG interface to the 5GC. The 5GNR (New Radio) gNB is connected to AMF, Access and Mobility ManagementFunction, and UPF, User Plane Function, in the 5GC, 5G Core Network.

In certain urban environments, installing additional base stations onbuildings or other infrastructure sites may face typical deploymentchallenges and burdens, such as real estate availability and costs, orconstraining regulations. In the same urban environments, in conjunctionwith the high density of users, one can also expect the presence andavailability of many vehicles around, e.g., for public/privatepassengers transportation, goods delivery, food trucks etc., typicallymoving at low/pedestrian speed (or temporarily stationary). Some of thevehicles can follow a certain known/predictable itinerary (e.g., busesor trams, etc.), or be situated in specific locations (e.g., outsidestadiums), through or around areas where extra cellular coverage andcapacity would be needed. Those vehicles would indeed offer a convenientand efficient place in which to install on board base stations acting asrelays, for providing 5G coverage and connectivity to neighboring UEsoutside the vehicle. Vehicle relays are obviously very suitable andoptimal for connecting users or devices inside the vehicle itself, notonly in urban areas but also other environments (and vehicle speeds),e.g. for passengers in buses, car/taxi, or trains. In other scenarios,e.g., during an outdoor sport race or pedestrian events, vehiclesequipped with relays could conveniently move along with users or devicesthat are outside the vehicle and provide service to them.

The technical benefits of using vehicle relays may include, amongothers, the ability of the vehicle relay to get better macro coveragethan the nearby UE, thanks to better RF/antenna capabilities, thusproviding the UE with a better link to the macro network. Additionally,a vehicle relay is expected to have less stringent power or batteryconstraints than UEs.

In 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a study on vehicle-mountedrelays, VMRs, has started to analyze gaps between the existingfunctionalities and required functionalities. During the study, it isassumed that a VMR will provide the 5G radio interface (NR-Uu interface)to UEs. This means that the VMR will be equipped with base station,e.g., gNB, functionalities to serve one or more cells, and the coverageof the one or more cells may move geographically.

What is needed are methods, apparatus, and/or techniques to deal withchallenges caused by the mobility of base stations.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In one example, a wireless terminal of a cellular telecommunicationsystem, the wireless terminal communicating with an access node via acell, the wireless terminal comprising: receiver circuitry configured toreceive, from the cell, serving cell mobility information, and;processor circuitry configured to determine, based on the serving cellmobility information, mobility state of the cell.

In one example, an access node of a cellular telecommunication system,the access node serving a wireless terminal via a cell, the access nodecomprising: processor circuitry configured to generate serving cellmobility information; transmitter circuitry configured to transmit, viathe cell, the serving cell mobility information, wherein; the servingcell mobility information is configured to be used by the wirelessterminal to determine mobility state of the cell.

In one example, a method for a wireless terminal of a cellulartelecommunication system, the wireless terminal communicating with anaccess node via a cell, the method comprising: receiving, from the cell,serving cell mobility information, and; determining, based on theserving cell mobility information, mobility state of the cell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of thetechnology disclosed herein will be apparent from the following moreparticular description of preferred embodiments as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which reference characters refer to the sameparts throughout the various views. The drawings are not necessarily toscale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles ofthe technology disclosed herein.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a communications system showing both acore network and radio access network, with the radio access networkincluding a mobile base station relay.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of nodes of the communications system of FIG.1 , including an example donor node, an example mobile base stationrelay node, and a wireless terminal node according to an exampleembodiment and mode.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a communications system showing both acore network and radio access network, with the radio access networkincluding a mobile base station relay which transmits serving cellmobility information.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of example structures and functionalitiesof an example communications system such as that of FIG. 3 and wherein amobile base station relay node provides serving cell mobilityinformation to one or more wireless terminals.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart view showing representative, example steps or actsperformed by a wireless terminal of the communications system of theexample embodiment and mode of FIG. 3 .

FIG. 6 is a flowchart view showing representative, example steps or actsperformed by a mobile base station relay node of the communicationssystem of the example embodiment and mode of FIG. 3 .

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of a communications system showing both acore network and radio access network, with the radio access networkincluding a Donor gNB node which transmits neighboring cell mobilityinformation to a wireless terminal.

FIG. 8 shows an example embodiment and mode of example structures andfunctionalities of communications system the example embodiment and modeof FIG. 7 , including a donor gNB which transmits neighboring cellmobility information.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart view showing representative, example steps or actsperformed by a wireless terminal of the communications system of theexample embodiment and mode of FIG. 7 .

FIG. 10 is a flowchart view showing representative, example steps oracts performed by a gNB base station node of the communications systemof the example embodiment and mode of FIG. 7 .

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view of a communications system showing both acore network and radio access network, with one or both of a Donor gNBnode and a mobile base station relay transmitting cell mobilityinformation and cell reselection configuration to a wireless terminalwhich may perform a cell reselection determination or procedure.

FIG. 12 shows an example embodiment and mode communications systemshowing example structures and functionalities of a donor gNB, a mobilebase station relay, and a wireless terminal according to the exampleembodiment of FIG. 11 .

FIG. 13 is a flowchart view showing representative, example steps oracts performed by a wireless terminal of the communications system ofthe example embodiment and mode of FIG. 11 .

FIG. 14 is a flowchart view showing representative, example steps oracts performed by either or both of a gNB base station node and a mobilebase station relay of the communications system of the exampleembodiment and mode of FIG. 11 .

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic view showing example elements comprisingelectronic machinery which may comprise a wireless terminal, a radioaccess node, and a core network node according to an example embodimentand mode.

FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic view of overall architecture for a 5G NewRadio system.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In one of its example aspects, the technology disclosed herein concernsa wireless terminal of a cellular telecommunication system whichcommunicates with an access node via a cell and which comprises receivercircuitry and processor circuitry. The receiver circuitry is configuredto receive, from the cell, serving cell mobility information. Theprocessor circuitry configured to determine, based on the serving cellmobility information, mobility state of the cell. Methods of operationof such wireless terminal are also provided.

In another of its example aspects, the technology disclosed hereinconcerns an access node of a cellular telecommunication system whichserves a wireless terminal via a cell and which comprises processorcircuitry and transmitter circuitry. The processor circuitry isconfigured to generate serving cell mobility information. Thetransmitter circuitry is configured to transmit, via the cell, theserving cell mobility information. The serving cell mobility informationis configured to be used by the wireless terminal to determine mobilitystate of the cell. Methods of operation of such access node are alsoprovided.

In yet another of its example aspects, the technology disclosed hereinconcerns a wireless terminal of a cellular telecommunication systemwhich comprises receiver circuitry and processor circuitry. The receivercircuitry is configured to receive, from a serving cell, neighboringcell mobility information, the neighboring cell mobility informationbeing associated with an identity of a neighboring cell. The processorcircuitry is configured to determine, based on the neighboring cellmobility information, mobility state of the neighboring cell. Methods ofoperation of such wireless terminal are also provided.

In still another of its example aspects, the technology disclosed hereinconcerns an access node of a cellular telecommunication system whichcommunicates with a wireless terminal. The access node comprisesprocessor circuitry and transmitter circuitry. The processor circuitryis configured to generate neighboring cell mobility information, theneighboring cell mobility association being associated with an identityof a neighboring cell. The transmitter circuitry is configured totransmit, to the wireless terminal, the neighboring cell mobilityinformation. The neighboring cell mobility information is configured tobe used by the wireless terminal to determine mobility state of theneighboring cell. Methods of operation of such access node are alsoprovided.

In a further one of its example aspects, the technology disclosed hereinconcerns a wireless terminal of a cellular telecommunication systemwhich comprises receiver circuitry and processor circuitry. Theprocessor circuitry is configured to camp on a serving cell. Thereceiver circuitry configured to receive a cell reselectionconfiguration from the serving cell, and cell mobility information. Theprocessor circuitry is further configured to perform a cell reselectionprocedure to determine, based on the cell reselection configuration andthe cell mobility information, whether or not to reselect a neighboringcell. The cell mobility information indicates mobility state of acorresponding cell. Methods of operation of such wireless terminal arealso provided.

In a yet further one of its example aspects, the technology disclosedherein concerns an access node of a cellular telecommunication systemwhich communicates with a wireless terminal. The access node comprisesprocessor circuitry and transmitter circuitry. The processor circuitryis configured to generate a cell reselection configuration and cellmobility information. The transmitter circuitry is configured totransmit, in the serving cell, the cell reselection configuration andthe cell mobility information. The cell reselection configuration andthe cell mobility information are used by the wireless terminal toperform a cell reselection procedure to determine whether or not thewireless terminal reselects a neighboring cell. The cell mobilityinformation indicates mobility state of a corresponding cell. Methods ofoperation of such access node are also provided.

In the following description, for purposes of explanation and notlimitation, specific details are set forth such as particulararchitectures, interfaces, techniques, etc. in order to provide athorough understanding of the technology disclosed herein. However, itwill be apparent to those skilled in the art that the technologydisclosed herein may be practiced in other embodiments that depart fromthese specific details. That is, those skilled in the art will be ableto devise various arrangements which, although not explicitly describedor shown herein, embody the principles of the technology disclosedherein and are included within its spirit and scope. In some instances,detailed descriptions of well-known devices, circuits, and methods areomitted so as not to obscure the description of the technology disclosedherein with unnecessary detail. All statements herein recitingprinciples, aspects, and embodiments of the technology disclosed herein,as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass bothstructural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it isintended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalentsas well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elementsdeveloped that perform the same function, regardless of structure.

Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat block diagrams herein can represent conceptual views ofillustrative circuitry or other functional units embodying theprinciples of the technology. Similarly, it will be appreciated that anyflow charts, state transition diagrams, pseudo code, and the likerepresent various processes which may be substantially represented incomputer readable medium and so executed by a computer or processor,whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown.

1.0 INTRODUCTION: GENERIC NETWORK ARCHITECTURE AND OPERATION

FIG. 1 shows a system diagram of an example 5G network 100 whichcomprises a vehicle-mounted relay. The 5G network 100 also comprises acore network 102 connected to one or more radio access network (RAN)nodes, such as Donor gNB 104 a and donor gNB 104 b, which are connectedto the core network 102 by wirelines 106 a and 106 b, respectively. Thedonor gNB 104 a serves at least one cell 108 a. Likewise, the donor gNB104 b serves at least one cell 108 b.

FIG. 1 also shows a mobile base station relay 112, which may be mountedon a vehicle. The mobile base station relay is illustrated by way ofexample as being under or within the coverage of the cell 108 a andconnected to the donor node 104 b via a wireless backhaul link 110. Themobile base station relay 112 serves at least one cell 114. A wirelessterminal 116 is served via a wireless access link 118. The wirelessterminal 116 may be, for example, a user equipment (UE), an integratedaccess and backhaul (IAB) node or another mobile station relay.

As used herein, the term “telecommunication system” or “communicationssystem” can refer to any network of devices used to transmitinformation. A non-limiting example of a telecommunication system is acellular network or other wireless communication system. As used herein,the term “cellular network” or “cellular radio access network” can referto a network distributed over cells, each cell served by at least onefixed-location transceiver, such as a base station. A “cell” may be anycommunication channel that is specified by standardization or regulatorybodies to be used for International Mobile Telecommunications-Advanced,“IMTAdvanced”. All or a subset of the cell may be adopted by 3GPP aslicensed bands, e.g., frequency band, to be used for communicationbetween a base station, such as a Node B, and a UE terminal. A cellularnetwork using licensed frequency bands can include configured cells.Configured cells can include cells of which a UE terminal is aware andin which it is allowed by a base station to transmit or receiveinformation. Examples of cellular radio access networks include E-UTRAN,and any successors thereof, e.g., NUTRAN.

A core network, CN, such as core network (CN) 102 may comprise numerousservers, routers, and other equipment. As used herein, the term “corenetwork” can refer to a device, group of devices, or sub-system in atelecommunication network that provides services to users of thetelecommunications network. Examples of services provided by a corenetwork include aggregation, authentication, call switching, serviceinvocation, gateways to other networks, etc. For example, core network(CN) 102 may comprise one or more management entities, which may be anAccess and Mobility Management Function, AMF.

A radio access network, RAN, typically comprises plural access nodes,one example access nodes 104 a, 104 b, and 112 being illustrated in FIG.1 . As used herein, the term “access node”, “node”, or “base station”can refer to any device or group of devices that facilitates wirelesscommunication or otherwise provides an interface between a wirelessterminal and a telecommunications system. A non-limiting example of abase station can include, in the 3GPP specification, a Node B (“NB”), anenhanced Node B (“eNB”), a home eNB (“HeNB”), a gNB (for a New Radio[“NR”] technology system), or some other similar terminology.

As used herein, for a UE in IDLE Mode, a “serving cell” is a cell onwhich the wireless terminal in idle mode is camped. See, e.g., 3GPP TS38.304. For a UE in RRC_CONNECTED not configured with carrieraggregation, CA/dual connectivity, DC, there is only one serving cellcomprising of the primary cell. For a UE in RRC_CONNECTED configuredwith CA/DC the term ‘serving cells’ is used to denote the set of cellscomprising of the Special Cell(s) and all secondary cells. See, e.g.,3GPP TS 38.331.

As used herein, the term “wireless terminal” can refer to any electronicdevice used to communicate voice and/or data via a telecommunicationssystem, such as (but not limited to) a cellular network. Otherterminology used to refer to wireless terminals and non-limitingexamples of such devices can include user equipment terminal, UE, mobilestation, mobile device, access terminal, subscriber station, mobileterminal, remote station, user terminal, terminal, subscriber unit,cellular phones, smart phones, personal digital assistants (“PDAs”),laptop computers, tablets, netbooks, e-readers, wireless modems, etc.

The wireless terminal communicates with its serving radio access networkover a radio or air interface. Communication between radio accessnetwork (RAN) 22 and wireless terminal over the radio interface occursby utilization of “resources”. Any reference to a “resource” hereinmeans “radio resource” unless otherwise clear from the context thatanother meaning is intended. In general, as used herein a radio resource(“resource”) is a time-frequency unit that can carry information acrossa radio interface, e.g., either signal information or data information.

An example of a radio resource occurs in the context of a “frame” ofinformation that is typically formatted and prepared, e.g., by a node.In Long Term Evolution (LTE) a frame, which may have both downlinkportion(s) and uplink portion(s), is communicated between the basestation and the wireless terminal. Each LTE frame may comprise pluralsubframes. For example, in the time domain, a 10 ms frame consists often one millisecond subframes. An LTE subframe is divided into two slots(so that there are thus 20 slots in a frame). The transmitted signal ineach slot is described by a resource grid comprised of resource elements(RE). Each column of the two dimensional grid represents a symbol (e.g.,an OFDM symbol on downlink (DL) from node to wireless terminal; anSC-FDMA symbol in an uplink (UL) frame from wireless terminal to node).Each row of the grid represents a subcarrier. A resource element (RE) isthe smallest time-frequency unit for downlink transmission in thesubframe. That is, one symbol on one sub-carrier in the sub-framecomprises a resource element (RE) which is uniquely defined by an indexpair (k,l) in a slot (where k and l are the indices in the frequency andtime domain, respectively). In other words, one symbol on onesub-carrier is a resource element (RE). Each symbol comprises a numberof sub-carriers in the frequency domain, depending on the channelbandwidth and configuration. The smallest time-frequency resourcesupported by the standard today is a set of plural subcarriers andplural symbols (e.g., plural resource elements (RE)) and is called aresource block (RB). A resource block may comprise, for example, 84resource elements, i.e., 12 subcarriers and 7 symbols, in case of normalcyclic prefix

-   -   In 5G New Radio (“NR”), a frame consists of 10 ms duration. A        frame consists of 10 subframes with each having lms duration        similar to LTE. Each subframe consists of 2^(μ) slots. Each slot        can have either 14 (normal CP) or 12 (extended CP) OFDM symbols.        A Slot is typical unit for transmission used by scheduling        mechanism. NR allows transmission to start at any OFDM symbol        and to last only as many symbols as required for communication.        This is known as “mini-slot” transmission. This facilitates very        low latency for critical data communication as well as minimizes        interference to other RF links. Mini-slot helps to achieve lower        latency in 5G NR architecture. Unlike slot, mini-slots are not        tied to the frame structure. It helps in puncturing the existing        frame without waiting to be scheduled. See, for example,        https://www.rfwireless-world.com/5G/5G-NR-Mini-Slot.html, which        is incorporated herein by reference.        As understood from the foregoing, the radio access network in        turn communicates with one or more core networks (CN) 102 over a        RAN-CN interface (e.g., N2 interface).

In a typical deployment scenario, the cell 108 a or 108 b may be a macrocell, and thus may, if so needed or so planned, cover a relatively largearea. On the other hand, the coverage of the cell 114 served by themobile base station relay 112 may be smaller in extent, e.g., limited toinside the vehicle and/or a nearby area, for example.

In some configurations, the 5G system 100 may perform mobilitymanagement functions for the wireless backhaul link 110 of the mobilebase station relay 112. Such mobility management functions may include,for example, handovers and connection establishment/re-establishmentoperations, e.g., connection establishment/re-establishment. In amobility situation such as that shown in FIG. 1 , as the mobile basestation relay 112 moves from the coverage of the cell 108 a towards thecoverage of the cell 108 b as depicted by arrow 120, the mobile basestation relay 112 may report measurement reports comprising informationwith regard to absolute/relative signal strength/quality of the signalsfrom the donor gNB 104 a and the donor gNB 104 b. Based on themeasurement reports, the donor gNB 104 a may initiate a handoverprocedure to handover the mobile base station relay 112 to the donor gNB104 b as a target gNB. Meanwhile, in a case that the wireless terminal116 keeps a proximity to the mobile base station relay 112, the wirelessterminal 116 may not be aware of the handover on the wireless backhaullink 110. An example of the wireless terminal 116 keeping a proximity tomobile base station relay 112 is the wireless terminal 116 being insidethe vehicle.

FIG. 2 shows an example embodiment and mode of an example,representative and generic mobile base station relay 112 and example,representative wireless terminal 116 or UE, such as those depicted inFIG. 1 . As shown in FIG. 2 , mobile base station relay 112 may compriseone or more mobile station relay processors or mobile station processorcircuitry, shown generically as mobile station relay processor 200.

In addition, mobile base station relay 112 may comprise gNB function201, relay function 202, and mobile termination (MT) function 204. ThegNB function 201 may also be referred to herein as gNB controller 201;the relay function 202 may also be referred to herein as relaycontroller 202; the mobile termination (MT) function 204 may also bereferred to herein as mobile termination (MT) controller 204.

The MT function 204 may further comprise transmitter circuitry andreceiver circuitry, e.g., transmitter 206 and receiver 208 for theupstream link. The uplink stream may be the wireless backhaul link 110to cell 114, for example. The MT function 204 may be responsible formaintaining a connection with a donor gNB 114, e.g., the donor gNB 114 aor 114 b in FIG. 1 , for which reason donor gNB is generically labeledas gNB 114 in FIG. 2 . In a case that the aforementioned NR-Uu interfaceis used for the wireless backhaul link 110, the functionality of the MTfunction 204 may be similar to that of a UE.

The gNB function 201 may further comprise at least one transmission andreception point (TRP) 222. The transmission and reception point (TRP)222 may further comprise transmitter circuitry and receiver circuitry,e.g., at least one transmitter 224, at least one receiver 226 and one ormore antennas 228 for the downstream link, e.g., the wireless accesslink 118. The gNB function 201 may behave like a regular gNB and may beresponsible for managing the cell 114 to serve the wireless terminal116. The relay function 202 may perform relaying user data and/orsignaling traffic from the downstream link to the upstream link, andvice versa.

FIG. 2 also shows various example constituent components andfunctionalities of wireless terminal 116. For example, FIG. 2 showswireless terminal 116 as comprising transceiver circuitry 276. Thetransceiver circuitry 276 in turn may comprise transmitter circuitry 277and receiver circuitry 278. The transceiver circuitry 276 may includeantenna(e) 279 for the wireless transmission. Transmitter circuitry 277may include, e.g., amplifier(s), modulation circuitry and otherconventional transmission equipment. Receiver circuitry 278 maycomprise, e.g., amplifiers, demodulation circuitry, and otherconventional receiver equipment.

FIG. 2 further shows wireless terminal 116 also comprising wirelessterminal processor circuitry, e.g., one or more wireless terminalprocessor(s) 290. The wireless terminal 116, e.g., wireless terminalprocessor(s) 290, may comprise frame/message generator/handler 294. Asis understood by those skilled in the art, in some telecommunicationssystem messages, signals, and/or data are communicated over a radio orair interface using one or more “resources”, e.g., “radio resource(s)”.

The wireless terminal 116 may also comprise interfaces 292, includingone or more user interfaces. Such user interfaces may serve for bothuser input and output operations, and may comprise (for example) ascreen such as a touch screen that can both display information to theuser and receive information entered by the user. The user interface 292may also include other types of devices, such as a speaker, amicrophone, or a haptic feedback device, for example.

It should be understood that the mobility of the cell 114 means that theat least one TRP 222 serving the cell 114 moves geographically at leastat some point in time, e.g., the mobile base station relay 112 with itstransmission and reception point (TRP) 222 need not always be at a fixedlocation. The mobility of the TRP 222, when the mobile base stationrelay 112 moves, causes coverage of the cell 114 to move as well. Themobility may not include a change on the range of the cell while the TRPis at a fixed location.

2.0 SERVING CELL MOBILITY INFORMATION: OVERVIEW

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary scenario of an example embodiment andmode. FIG. 4 shows structure and functionalities of nodes which mayparticipate in the example scenario of FIG. 3 . The structure andfunctionalities of the example embodiment and mode of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4are essentially the same as those shown by corresponding referencenumerals in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , unless otherwise noted or evident fromthe context. In a conventional cellular system, such as Long-TermEvolution (LTE), cells served by base stations are designed to bestationary. Based on this principle, a wireless terminal performsvarious procedures, including cell selection/reselection, measurements,registrations and handovers. By the introduction of mobile base stationrelays, such as the mobile base station relay 112 of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 ,e.g., in the manner understood with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , forexample, mobility of cells may possibly affect behaviors of wirelessterminals, such as the wireless terminal 116 of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 .

In the example embodiment and mode of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 , mobile basestation relay 112 includes mobility state information generator 300.With its mobility state information generator 300 the mobile basestation relay 112 may inform the wireless terminal 116 of informationregarding its mobility, e.g., mobility of the mobile base station relay112. The information regarding mobility of mobile base station relay112, which the cell 114 through mobile base station relay 112 provides,is herein referred as “serving cell mobility information”, or “servingcell mobility information 320”. Specifically, the cell 114 of FIG. 3 maytransmit the serving cell mobility information 320 to the wirelessterminal 116. As shown in FIG. 4 , the mobile base station relay 112 maycomprise mobility state information generator 300 which generates and/orstores the serving cell mobility information which mobile base stationrelay 112 provides to wireless terminal 116. The mobility stateinformation generator 300 may comprise or be realized by mobile stationrelay processor 200, e.g., by relay controller 202. The mobility stateinformation generator 300 may obtain the serving cell mobilityinformation which it transmits in one or more of several ways. Forexample, the mobility state information generator 300 may obtain theserving cell mobility information from pre-configured information, fromconfigured information received from the donor gNG or the core network,or from a device which may be equipped in the vehicle that detectsand/or monitors the mobility and optionally other parameters orcharacteristics of the vehicle and its travel.

Upon receipt by wireless terminal 116, the serving cell mobilityinformation 320 may be used by the wireless terminal 116 to determinemobility state of the cell that the wireless terminal 116 is camping onor attempts to camp on. FIG. 4 thus further shows wireless terminal 116as comprising mobility state determination controller 330. The mobilitystate determination controller 330 may process and may act upon theserving cell mobility information received by wireless terminal 116through transceiver circuitry 276. For example, the serving cellmobility information 320 may be further used by applications and/orprocesses running on the wireless terminal 116. One example of usage forthe cell mobility information is disclosed in a cell reselectiondetermination or procedure, as described with reference to the exampleembodiment and mode of FIG. 11 -FIG. 14 , for example.

2.1 Serving Cell Mobility Information: Manner of Transmission

The serving cell mobility information 320 may be broadcasted in the cell114 via system information. In this case, the serving cell mobilityinformation 320 may be included in Master Information Block (MIB),System Information Block Type 1 (SIB1) and/or other system informationblocks (SIB s), per 3GPP TS 38.331. See, e.g., 3GPP TS 38.331 V16.2.0(2020-09), 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical SpecificationGroup Radio Access Network; NR; Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocolspecification (Release 16), which is incorporated herein by reference inits entirety and hereinafter also referred to as “3GPP TS 38.331”.

Additionally, or alternatively, the serving cell mobility information320 may be transmitted to the wireless terminal 116 via a dedicatedsignaling, such as Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling per 3GPPTS38.331. In the case of the RRC dedicated signaling, an RRC message,such as an RRCReconfiguration message or an RRCRelease message may beused. Other types of signaling may also be utilized.

2.2 Serving Cell Mobility Information: Contents

The serving cell mobility information 320 may include one or moreattributes or elements to represent the mobility state of the servingcell. These attributes may be included in information elements of amessage in which the serving cell mobility information 320 istransmitted.

In one example implementation, one of such attributes may be a cellmobility indicator as a Boolean value, indicating whether or not thecell is “mobile”. For example, a base station mounted on a vehicle tomove, such as a bus, a train and a taxi, may set to a value or symbolindicative of the cell being “mobile”, e.g., the cell mobility indicatormay be set to “mobile”. For a stationary base station, or a base stationmounted on a vehicle but not to move (stationary), such as a temporarybase station equipped in a van for an event, the cell mobility indicatormay be set with “stationary” (or “fixed” or “not mobile”), oralternatively, the cell mobility indicator may not be present in thesystem information. Listing 1 shows an example implementation of anexample cell mobility indicator, cellMobilitylndicator, comprised in theMIB, e.g., which may be included in the Master Information Block (MIB).The wireless terminal 116 that receives the MIB may determine whether ornot the cell is “mobile”, e.g., served by a mobile base station relay,based on the cell mobility indicator.

Listing 1

MIB ::= SEQUENCE {  systemFrameNumber  BIT STRING (SIZE (6)), subCarrierSpacingCommon    ENUMERATED {scs15or60, scs30or120}, ssb-SubcarrierOffset   INTEGER (0..15),  dmrs-TypeA-Position  ENUMERATED {pos2, pos3},  pdcch-ConfigSIB1   PDCCH-ConfigSIB1, cellBarred ENUMERATED {barred, notBarred},  intraFreqReselection ENUMERATED {allowed, notAllowed},  cellMobilityIndicator   ENUMERATED{mobile, stationary} } -- TAG-MIB-STOP -- ASN1STOP

In another example implementation, preferably in a case that the MIB isused, the serving cell mobility information 320 may comprise a range ofphysical cell identities (PCIs). In the 5G cellular system, there are1,008 unique PCIs available in the system, and one of the PCIs isencoded in a primary synchronization signal (PSS) and a secondarysynchronization signal (SSS) broadcasted in a cell. In thisimplementation, a selected set of PCIs or a range of PCIs may bereserved for mobile base station relays (herein referred as “reservedPCIs”). Upon selecting a cell, the wireless terminal 116 may decode thePSS and the SSS to obtain the PCI of the cell, and then determine if thePCI is included in the reserved PCIs. If the determination is positive,the wireless terminal 116 may consider that the cell is “mobile”,otherwise the cell is “stationary”, e.g., a conventional cell. In oneexemplary implementation, the reserved PCIs may be pre-determined orpre-configured to the wireless terminal 116. In another exemplaryimplementation, a list of the reserved PCIs may be broadcasted in systeminformation, such as MIB, SIB1 and/or other SIB(s), and thus received byand known to wireless terminal 116.

In addition, the one or more attributes representing the mobility stateof the serving cell may further include, but not be limited to, one ormore of the following:

-   -   (1) current moving state, e.g., currently moving, currently not        moving, capable of moving, etc.;    -   (2) speed, e.g., velocity, or class of speed, e.g., high, mid or        low;    -   (3) a direction of moving; and    -   (4) a current position of the cell, e.g., the location of the        TRP.

A stationary cell, such as the cell 108 a and the cell 108 b, may chooseto broadcast or not to broadcast the serving cell mobility information320 for itself. In a case of such a stationary cell choosing tobroadcast the serving cell mobility information for itself, the servingcell mobility information 320 may indicate the mobility state as being“stationary”. In a case of such a stationary cell choosing not tobroadcast, a wireless terminal, such as the wireless terminal 116 ofFIG. 3 , may consider the cell as “stationary”, even though no cellmobility information is specifically received.

2.3 Serving Cell Mobility Information: Operation

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing example, representative, generic basicsteps or acts performed by a wireless terminal of the example embodimentand mode of FIG. 3 . Act 5-1 comprises receiving, from a cell, servingcell mobility information, such as the serving cell mobility information320 of FIG. 3 . In one example implementation, the serving cell mobilityinformation may be included in a signal(s) broadcasted by the cell, suchas a master information block (MIB), a system information block (SIB),and/or primary/secondary synchronization signals (PSS/SSS). In anotherexample implementation, the serving cell mobility information may beincluded in a dedicated signaling, such as a radio resource control(RRC) message. Act 5-2 comprises determining, based on the serving cellmobility information, mobility state of the cell. The mobility statedetermination of act 5-2 may be performed by the mobile station relayprocessor 200, e.g., by mobility state determination controller 300. Themobility state of the cell may indicate whether or not at least onetransmission and reception point (TRP) serving the cell geographicallymoves. For example, the cell mobility information for serving cell mayset to “mobile” in a case a base station serving the cell is a mobilebase station relay. Whereas the cell mobility information for servingcell may set to “stationary” in a case a base station serving the cellis a fixed base station, e.g., a fixed TRP. Although not specificallyshown in FIG. 5 , it is understood that the wireless terminal 116 mayperform further operations based on the received serving cell mobilityinformation. Such further operations may include a cell reselectiondetermination/procedure as described with reference to the exampleembodiment and mode of FIG. 11 -FIG. 14 , for example.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing example representative, generic basicsteps or acts performed by an access node of the example embodiment andmode of FIG. 3 , e.g., the mobile base station relay 112 of FIG. 3 or astationary/fixed base station such as the donor gNB 104 a/104 b of FIG.3 . Act 6-1 comprises generating serving cell mobility information, suchas the serving cell mobility information 320 of FIG. 3 . Act 6-2comprises transmitting, via a cell served by the access node, theserving cell mobility information. As mentioned above, in one exampleimplement, the serving cell mobility information may be included in asignal(s) broadcasted by the cell, such as a master information block(MIB), a system information block (SIB), and/or primary/secondarysynchronization signals (PSS/SSS). In another example implement, theserving cell mobility information may be included in a dedicatedsignaling, such as a radio resource control (RRC) message. The servingcell mobility information may be used by a wireless terminal 116 todetermine mobility state of the cell. The mobility state of the cell mayindicate whether or not at least one transmission and reception point(TRP) serving the cell geographically moves. For example, the servingcell mobility information may set to “mobile” in a case an access nodeserving the cell is a mobile base station relay. Whereas the servingcell mobility information may set to “stationary” in a case access nodeserving the cell is a fixed base station (e.g., a fixed TRP).

3.0 NEIGHBORING CELL MOBILITY INFORMATION: OVERVIEW

In the previous embodiment, e.g., the example embodiment and mode ofFIG. 3 -FIG. 6 , the serving cell mobility information is aimed toindicate mobility state (e.g., “mobile” or “stationary”) of a cell thatbroadcasts the cell mobility information. In the communications system100(7) of an example embodiment and mode of FIG. 7 -FIG. 10 , a servingcell may provide one or more instances of mobility information for aneighboring cell(s). Such instances of mobility information for aneighboring cell may herein be referred as “neighboring cell mobilityinformation”. Each of the one or more instances of neighboring cellmobility information may be associated with a corresponding neighboringcell. Similar to the example embodiment and mode of FIG. 3 -FIG. 6 ,when receiving from the serving cell, a wireless terminal of the exampleembodiment and mode of FIG. 7 -FIG. 10 may use the one or more instancesof the neighboring cell mobility information for applications and/orprocesses, such as cell reselection. The neighboring cell mobilityinformation may preferably be transmitted to and received by thewireless terminal via system information, but it is also possible thatother signaling and transmissions may be utilized, such as dedicatedsignaling, for example, disclosed in the previous example embodiment andmode.

3.1 Neighboring Cell Mobility Information: Example Scenario

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary operation and scenario for an exampleembodiment and mode wherein neighboring cell mobility information istransmitted. As shown in FIG. 7 , a wireless terminal 116 camps on thecell 108 a served by the donor gNB 104 a via a wireless access link 402.The wireless terminal may obtain, via the cell 108 a, a list(s) 400 ofneighboring cells. The list(s) 400 of neighboring cells is preferablyincluded in one or more system information blocks (SIB s) broadcasted bythe cell 108 a, such as SIB3, SIB4 and SIB5. The list(s) 400 ofneighboring cells may comprise one or more identities, e.g., physicalcell identities, PCIs, of neighboring cells, such as the cell 108 b. Ata time in FIG. 7 at which the mobile base station relay 112 is shown indotted lines the mobile base station relay 112 is not at a nearbylocation, e.g., not yet in the coverage of the cell 108 a, so at suchtime the list(s) 400 of neighboring cells may not include the identityof the cell 114. As the vehicle mounting the mobile base station relay112 approaches towards the cell 108 a as shown at time in which themobile base station relay 112 is depicted by solid lines in FIG. 7 , themobile base station relay 112 may establish the wireless backhaul link110 to the donor gNB 104 a. The establishment of the wireless backhaullink 110 may trigger the donor gNB 104 a to update the list(s) 400 ofneighboring cells resulting in updated list(s) 400′ of neighboringcells, and to start broadcasting updated the list(s) 400′ of neighboringcells.

The updating of the list(s) of neighboring cells may include adding theidentity of the cell 114 to the list(s) 400′ of neighboring cells, aswell as removing or adding any other cell identities that may beappropriate at the time. In certain circumstances the list(s) 400 ofneighboring cells may include just one neighboring cell, e.g., the cell114 of the mobile base station relay 112 shown in FIG. 7 .

In an implementation of the example embodiment and mode of FIG. 7 thelist(s) of neighboring cells may be associated with one or moreinstances of neighboring cell mobility information 406 to indicatemobility state of one or more corresponding neighboring cells. Forexample, one or more of the cells listed in the list(s) of neighboringcells 400′ may be a mobile cell, such as a cell having mobile basestation relay 112, and for each such mobile cell the list may include orpoint to neighboring cell mobility information 406, as illustrated inFIG. 7 and described with example reference to Listing 2 below.

Alternatively or additionally, the Donor gNB 104 a may transmit, e.g.,broadcast, the neighboring cell mobility information in other form, suchas without a list of neighboring cells. For example, the Donor gNB 104 amay send the wireless terminal 116 a signal or SSB which, withoutreference to other cells, provides the neighboring cell mobilityinformation for the cell 114 served by mobile base station relay 112.

3.2 Neighboring Cell Mobility Information: Example Nodes

FIG. 8 shows an example embodiment and mode communications system 100(7)showing, e.g., a donor gNB which transmits neighboring cell mobilityinformation, either in the form of the list(s) 400 of neighboring cellsor otherwise. The structure and functionalities of the exampleembodiment and mode of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are essentially the same asthose shown by corresponding reference numerals in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 ,unless otherwise noted or evident from the context. In the exampleembodiment and mode of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 , Donor gNB 104 a includesneighboring cell mobility state information generator 410. With itsneighboring cell mobility state information generator 410 the Donor gNB104 a may inform the wireless terminal 116 of information regardingmobility of one or more neighboring cells. Specifically, the Donor gNB104 a may transmit the neighboring cell mobility information 406 to thewireless terminal 116. As shown in FIG. 8 , the neighboring cellmobility state information generator 410 of Donor gNB 104 a may compriseor be realized by Donor gNB 104 a processor 424, as hereinafterdescribed. The Donor gNB 104 a preferably obtains the neighboring cellmobility information which it transmits from the core network.

FIG. 8 shows wireless access node, e.g., Donor gNB 104 a, in one exampleimplementation as comprising central unit 420 and distributed unit 422.The central unit 420 and distributed unit 422 may be realized by, e.g.,be comprised of or include, one or more processor circuits, e.g., nodeprocessor(s) 424. The one or more node processor(s) 424 may be shared bycentral unit 420 and distributed unit 422, or each of central unit 420and distributed unit 422 may comprise one or more node processor(s) 424.Moreover, central unit 420 and distributed unit 422 may be co-located ata same node site, or alternatively one or more distributed units 422 maybe located at sites remote from central unit 420 and connected theretoby a packet network. The distributed unit 422 may comprise transceivercircuitry 426, which in turn may comprise transmitter circuitry 427 andreceiver circuitry 428. The transceiver circuitry 426 may includeantenna(e) for the wireless transmission. Transmitter circuitry 427 mayinclude, e.g., amplifier(s), modulation circuitry and other conventionaltransmission equipment. Receiver circuitry 428 may comprise, e.g.,amplifiers, demodulation circuitry, and other conventional receiverequipment. As further shown in FIG. 8 , node processor(s) 424 of gNB 104a may comprise the neighboring cell mobility state information generator410.

FIG. 8 shows the wireless terminal processor(s) 290 as comprisingneighboring cell mobility state determination controller 430. Theneighboring cell mobility state determination controller 430 may processand may act upon the neighboring cell mobility information 406 receivedby wireless terminal 116 through transceiver circuitry 276. For example,the neighboring cell mobility information 406 may be further used byapplications and/or processes running on the wireless terminal 116. Oneexample of usage for the neighboring cell mobility information 406 iscell reselection.

3.3 Neighboring Cell Mobility Information: Example Information Content

In one example implementation, the neighboring cell mobility information406 may comprise the one or more attributes, elements, representing themobility state, as disclosed in the example embodiment and mode of FIG.3 -FIG. 6 . That is, the one or more attributes or elements may comprisethe aforementioned cell mobility indicator, and may possibly furthercomprise other attributes, such as a speed, a direction and a position.

Listing 2 shows an example implementation wherein a SIB3 providesinformation with regard to intra-frequency neighboring cells, where anoptional information element, cellMobilityInfo, may be associated witheach of some of the neighboring cells listed in intraFreqNeighCellList.The information element, cellMobilityInfo, may comprise the cellmobility indicator, cellMobilitylndicator, disclosed in the exampleembodiment and mode of FIG. 3 -FIG. 6 , and may further comprise a cellmobility speed class, cellMobilitySpeedClass, a direction,cellMobilityDirection and a position of the cell, cellPosition. It ispossible to apply this example implementation in a similar manner toSIB4, although not illustrated as such, that provides a list ofinter-frequency neighboring cells, and/or SIB5, also shown, thatprovides a list of inter-RAT, Radio Access Technology, neighboringcells.

Listing 2

SIB3 ::= SEQUENCE {  intraFreqNeighCellList   IntraFreqNeighCellListOPTIONAL, -- Need R  intraFreqBlackCellList    IntraFreqBlackCellListOPTIONAL, -- Need R  lateNonCriticalExtension    OCTET STRING OPTIONAL, ...,  [[  intraFreqNeighCellList-v1610     IntraFreqNeighCellList-v1610 OPTIONAL, -- Need R intraFreqWhiteCellList-r16      IntraFreqWhiteCellList-r16 OPTIONAL, --Cond SharedSpectrum2  intraFreqCAG-CellList-r16     SEQUENCE (SIZE(1..maxPLMN)) OF IntraFreqCAG-CellPerPLMN-r16     OPTIONAL -- Need R  ]]} IntraFreqNeighCellList ::=   SEQUENCE (SIZE (1..maxCellIntra)) OFIntraFreqNeighCellInfo IntraFreqNeighCellList-v1610::=      SEQUENCE(SIZE (1..maxCellIntra)) OF IntraFreqNeighCellInfo-v1610IntraFreqNeighCellInfo ::=    SEQUENCE {  physCellId   PhysCellId, q-OffsetCell   Q-OffsetRange,  q-RxLevMinOffsetCell   INTEGER (1..8)OPTIONAL, -- Need R  q-RxLevMinOffsetCellSUL    INTEGER (1..8)OPTIONAL, -- Need R  q-QualMinOffsetCell    INTEGER (1..8) OPTIONAL, --Need R  cellMobilityInfo  CellMobilityInfo OPTIONAL, -- Need R  ... }CellMobilityInfo ::=  SEQUENCE {  cellMobilityIndicator   ENUMERATED{mobile, stationary}  cellMobilitySpeedClass   ENUMERATED {High, Mid,Low, spare} OPTIONAL, -- Need R  cellMobilityDirection   ENUMERATED {N,NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW} OPTIONAL, -- Need R  cellMobilityPosition    cellPosition, -- Need R  ... }

In this example implementation, upon updating the list(s) of neighboringcells, the donor gNB 104 a may add an instance of IntraFreqNeighCellInfoto IntraFreqNeighCellList, where the instance may include physCellId setto the PCI of the cell 114 and cellMobilityInfo comprisingcellMobilitylndicator set to “mobile” and possibly the other optionalattributes, elements. When the mobile base station relay 112 moves awayfrom the cell 108 a, the donor gNB 104 a may remove the instance ofIntraFreqNeighCellInfo from IntraFreqNeighCellList.

It should be understood that the example embodiment and mode of FIG. 7-FIG. 8 may be used as a complement to the example embodiment and modeof FIG. 3 -FIG. 6 . For example, the MIB may include the serving cellmobility information only comprising the cell mobility indicator, whileone or more SIB s may include the neighboring cell mobility informationcomprising other attributes, e.g., speed, direction, etc. The exampleembodiment and mode of FIG. 7 -FIG. 8 may be also used as an alternativeof the example embodiment and mode of FIG. 3 -FIG. 6 , in a case, forexample, that reserved PCIs cannot be allocated.

3.4 Neighboring Cell Mobility Information: Example Operation

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing example representative steps or actsperformed by a wireless terminal 116 of the example embodiment and modeof FIG. 7 -FIG. 8 . Act 9-1 comprises receiving, from a serving cell,neighboring cell mobility information, such as the neighboring cellmobility information 406 of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 , wherein the neighboringcell mobility information may be associated with an identity of aneighboring cell, such as the identity of the cell 114 of FIG. 7 . Suchan identity of a neighboring cell may be included in the list(s) ofneighboring cells 400 of FIG. 7 . In one example implementation, theneighboring cell mobility information may be included in one or moresystem information blocks (SIBs). In another configuration, theneighboring cell mobility information may be included in a dedicatedsignaling, such as a radio resource control (RRC) message.

Act 9-2 comprises determining, based on the neighboring cell mobilityinformation, mobility state of the neighboring cell. The mobility statemay comprise an indication indicating whether or not at least onetransmission and reception point (TRP) serving the neighboring cellgeographically moves. For example, the cell mobility indicator may setto “mobile” in a case a base station serving the neighboring cell is amobile base station relay. Whereas the cell mobility indicator may setto “stationary” in a case a base station serving the neighboring cell isa fixed base station (e.g., a fixed TRP). The mobility state may furthercomprise a speed, a direction and/or a position of the neighboring cell.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing example representative steps or actsperformed by an access node of the present embodiment, e.g., the mobilebase station relay 112 of FIG. 7 , or a stationary/fixed base stationsuch as the donor gNB 104 a/104 b of FIG. 7 ). Act 10-1 comprisesgenerating neighboring cell mobility information, such as theneighboring cell mobility information 406 of FIG. 7 , wherein theneighboring cell mobility information may be associated with an identityof a neighboring cell, such as the identity of the cell 114 of FIG. 7 .Such an identity of a neighboring cell may be included in the list(s) ofneighboring cells 400 of FIG. 7 .

Act 10-2 comprises transmitting, to a wireless terminal, e.g., thewireless terminal 116 of FIG. 7 , the neighboring cell mobilityinformation. In one example implementation, the neighboring cellmobility information may be included in one or more system informationblocks (SIBs). In another example implementation, the neighboring cellmobility information may be included in a dedicated signaling, such as aradio resource control (RRC) message. The neighboring cell mobilityinformation may be used by a wireless terminal to determine mobilitystate of the neighboring cell. The mobility state may comprise anindication indicating whether or not at least one transmission andreception point (TRP) serving the neighboring cell geographically moves.For example, the cell mobility indicator may set to “mobile” in a case abase station serving the neighboring cell is a mobile base stationrelay. Whereas the cell mobility indicator may set to “stationary” in acase a base station serving the neighboring cell is a fixed basestation, e.g., a fixed TRP. The mobility state may further comprise aspeed, a direction and/or a position of the neighboring cell.

4.0 CELL RESELECTION BASED ON CELL MOBILITY INFORMATION: OVERVIEW

The example embodiment and mode of FIG. 11 -FIG. 14 describes exampleuse of cell mobility information, referring to either or both of theserving cell mobility information disclosed in the example embodimentand mode of FIG. 3 -FIG. 6 and the neighboring cell mobility informationdisclosed in the example embodiment and mode of FIG. 7 -FIG. 10 , for awireless terminal to perform a cell reselection procedure. Accordingly,as used herein, particularly with reference to FIG. 11 -FIG. 14 , theterms “mobility information” and “cell mobility information”, which maybe used interchangeably, encompass either or both of serving cellmobility information and neighboring cell mobility information.

As previously indicated, a conventional cell reselection procedure maybe designed based on the assumption that cells are stationary. When acell is “stationary”, the TRP(s) of that stationary cell does not move.However, in a case that the assumption does not hold, e.g., in a casethat the cell(s) do physically/geographically move, the cell reselectionprocedure may need to take into account the mobility of cells.

4.1 Cell Reselection Based on Cell Mobility Information: ExampleScenario

FIG. 11 shows an example scenario of such a case, wherein the wirelessterminal 116 in an idle state, e.g., RRC IDLE, or in an inactive state,e.g., RRC INACTIVE, may first camp on the cell 108 a. Cell 108 a isshown in FIG. 11 as a stationary cell. In FIG. 11 , the mobile basestation relay 112 is carried by or mounted on a vehicle. As the vehicleequipped with the mobile base station relay 112 approaches toward thewireless terminal 116, the wireless terminal 116 may discover the cell114 which is served by mobile base station relay 112. It is desired thatthe likelihood of the wireless terminal 116 reselecting the cell 114 beconfigurable based on the mobility of the cell 114, e.g., dependent onthe extent and nature of mobility of cell 114. For example, in somesituations it may be desired that the wireless terminal 116 be morelikely to reselect the cell 114 if the wireless terminal 116 rides onthe vehicle that carries mobile base station relay 112. In othersituations, it may be desired that the wireless terminal 116 be morelikely to stay on the cell 108 a, a stationary macro cell, while thewireless terminal 116 is not in the vehicle carrying mobile base stationrelay 112, especially when the vehicle which carries mobile base stationrelay 112 moves in high speed.

In the example embodiment and mode of FIG. 11 , the mobile base stationrelay 112, specifically the transmitter 224 of FIG. 2 , may broadcastthe cell mobility information for cell 114. The cell mobilityinformation is transmitted over the wireless access link 118. It may bepreferred to use the MIB or the PSS/SSS to carry the cell mobilityinformation of cell 114 for the example embodiment and mode of FIG. 11 ,since such signals are detected first when a wireless terminal 116discovers a cell. The wireless terminal 116 that receives the cellmobility information may use the mobility indicator included in the cellmobility information to alter the cell reselection procedure, asdisclosed below.

4.2 Cell Reselection Based on Cell Mobility Information: Example Nodes

FIG. 12 shows example structures and functionalities of the exampleembodiment and mode communications system 100(11) of FIG. 11 , showingradio access network including a donor gNB node 104 and a mobile basestation relay 112, either of which may transmit cell mobilityinformation and cell reselection configuration information. Thestructure and functionalities of the example embodiment and mode of FIG.11 and FIG. 13 are essentially the same as those shown by correspondingreference numerals in the preceding figures, unless otherwise noted orevident from the context. In the example embodiment and mode of FIG. 11and FIG. 12 , Donor gNB 104 a includes cell mobility state informationgenerator 500A and cell reselection configuration information generator502A. One or more, and preferably both, of cell mobility stateinformation generator 500A and cell reselection configurationinformation generator 502A may comprise or be realized by nodeprocessor(s) 424 of Donor gNB 104 a. Specifically, the Donor gNB 104 amay transmit the cell mobility information 508 generated by cellmobility state information generator 500A to the wireless terminal 116as cell mobility state information 508A and the cell reselectionconfiguration generated by the cell reselection configurationinformation generator 502A to the wireless terminal 116 as cellreselection configuration 510A.

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 further show mobile base station relay 112 ascomprising cell mobility state information generator 500B and cellreselection configuration information generator 502B. One or more, andpreferably both, of cell mobility state information generator 500B andcell reselection configuration information generator 502B of mobile basestation relay 112 may comprise or be realized by mobile station relayprocessor 200, for example by relay controller 202. The mobile basestation relay 112 may transmit the cell mobility information generatedby cell mobility state information generator 500B to the wirelessterminal 116 as cell mobility state information 508B and the cellreselection configuration generated by the cell reselectionconfiguration information generator 502B to the wireless terminal 116 ascell reselection configuration 510B.

As shown in FIG. 12 , either one or both of cell mobility stateinformation 508A and cell mobility state information 508B generated byDonor gNB 104 a and mobile base station relay 112, respectively, and/orone or both of cell reselection configuration 510A and cell reselectionconfiguration 510B generated by Donor gNB 104 a and mobile base stationrelay 112, respectively, may be received by wireless terminal 116. Asused herein, cell mobility state information 508 generically refers toeither of cell mobility state information 508A or cell mobility stateinformation 508B, or both; while cell reselection configuration 510generically refers to either cell reselection configuration 510A or cellreselection configuration 510B, or both.

The wireless terminal 116 comprises cell reselection controller 530. Thecell reselection controller 530 may use the cell mobility stateinformation 508 and the cell reselection configuration 510 to perform acell reselection procedure, as herein described. The cell reselectioncontroller 530 mat comprise or be realized by wireless terminalprocessor(s) 290.

4.3 Cell Reselection Based on Cell Mobility Information: ExampleOperation

The example scenario of FIG. 11 depicts a case where the wirelessterminal 116 reselects the mobile cell 114 from, e.g., while in butpreparing to leave, the stationary cell 108 a. First, the wirelessterminal 116 may obtain, from the cell 108 a, a currently serving cell,a cell reselection configuration 510 via system information broadcastover the wireless access link 518. The cell reselection configuration510 may comprise parameters, such as thresholds, offset values, timervalues, and/or counter values to be used for evaluations of candidatecells. In addition, the cell reselection configuration 510 of theexample embodiment and mode of FIG. 11 -FIG. 14 may also comprise a setof parameters designated to be used for evaluation of cells whosemobility state is “mobile”. This set of parameters, referred as“reselection parameters for mobile cells”, may take effect when thewireless terminal 116 discovers a “mobile” cell, such as the cell 114,but on the other hand may take no effect when the wireless terminal 116discovers a “non-mobile” cell, e.g., a “stationary” or “fixed” cell,such as the cell 108 b. In the scenario of FIG. 11 , the wirelessterminal 116 camping on the cell 108 a may (1) eventually discover the“mobile” cell 114 approaching toward the wireless terminal 116, (2)receive broadcast signal(s) over the wireless access link 118, (3)obtain the cell mobility information indicating that the cell is“mobile”, (4) evaluate the cell 114 based on the cell reselectionconfiguration as well as the reselection parameters for mobile cells,and (5) finally make a decision whether or not to reselect the cell 114.

Cell mobility information may be transmitted from the mobile basestation relay 112 to the wireless terminal 116 as shown in FIG. 11 bythe cell mobility information 522A. The cell mobility information 522Atransmitted from mobile base station relay 112 may be the serving cellmobility information disclosed in the example embodiment and mode ofFIG. 3 -FIG. 6 , and as such provides the mobility state of the servingcell which, in this illustration, is the cell 114. Additionally, oralternatively, cell mobility information may also be transmitted fromthe donor gNB 104 a. The cell mobility information transmitted fromDonor gNB 104 a is shown in FIG. 11 as cell mobility configuration 522B,and may be is the neighboring cell mobility information disclosed in theexample embodiment and mode of FIG. 6 -FIG. 10 , and which indicates themobility state of the neighboring cell, e.g., the cell 104 served bymobile base station relay 112.

In a typical cellular network, a cell reselection may be performed basedon pre-determined/pre-configured criteria. For example, 3GPP TS 38.304V16.2.0 (2020-09), 3rd Generation Partnership Project; TechnicalSpecification Group Radio Access Network; NR; User Equipment (UE)procedures in Idle mode and RRC, Inactive State (Release 16), herein“3GPP TS 38.304”, which is incorporated herein by reference, specifiescell-ranking criteria as shown in Listing 3.

Listing 3

The cell-ranking criterion R_(s) for serving cell and R_(n) forneighbouring cells is defined by:

R _(s) =Q _(meas,s) +Q _(hyst) −QOffSet_(temp)

R _(a) =Q _(meas,n) −Qoffset−Qoffset_(temp)

where:

Q_(meas) RSRP measurement quantity used in cell reselections. QoffsetFor intra-frequency: Equals to Qoffset_(s, n), if Qoffset_(s, n) isvalid, otherwise this equals to zero. For inter-frequency: Equals toQoffset_(s, n) plus Qoffset_(frequency), if Qoffset_(s, n) is valid,otherwise this equals to Qoffset_(frequency). Qoffset_(temp) Offsettemporarily applied to a cell as specified in 3GPP TS 38.331 [3].

The UE shall perform ranking of all cells that fulfil the cell selectioncriterion S, which is defined in section 5.2.3.2 of 3GPP TS 38.304.

The cells shall be ranked according to the R criteria specified above byderiving Q_(meas,n) and Q_(meas,s) and calculating the R values usingaveraged RSRP results.

If rangeToBestCell is not configured, the UE shall perform cellreselection to the highest ranked cell. If this cell is found to benot-suitable, the UE shall behave according to clause 5.2.4.4 of 3GPP TS38.304.

If rangeToBestCell is configured, then the UE shall perform cellreselection to the cell with the highest number of beams above thethreshold (i.e. absThreshSS-BlocksConsolidation) among the cells whose Rvalue is within rangeToBestCell of the R value of the highest rankedcell. If there are multiple such cells, the UE shall perform cellreselection to the highest ranked cell among them. If this cell is foundto be not-suitable, the UE shall behave according to clause 5.2.4.4 of3GPP TS 38.304.

In all cases, the UE shall reselect the new cell, only if the followingconditions are met:

-   -   the new cell is better than the serving cell according to the        cell reselection criteria specified above during a time interval        Treselection_(RAT);    -   more than 1 second has elapsed since the UE camped on the        current serving cell.    -   NOTE: If rangeToBestCell is configured but        absThreshSS-BlocksConsolidation is not configured on an NR        frequency, the UE considers that there is one beam above the        threshold for each cell on that frequency.

Treselection_(RAT)

This specifies the cell reselection timer value. For each target NRfrequency and for each RAT other than NR, a specific value for the cellreselection timer is defined, which is applicable when evaluatingreselection within NR or towards other RAT, e.g., Treselection_(RAT) forNR is Treselection_(NR), for E-UTRAN Treselection_(EUTRA).

-   -   NOTE: Treselection_(RAT) is not broadcast in system information        but used in reselection rules by the UE for each RAT.

Treselection_(NR)

This specifies the cell reselection timer value Treselection_(RAT) forNR. The parameter can be set per NR frequency as specified in 3GPP TS38.331 [3].

As an exemplary implementation of the example embodiment and mode ofFIG. 11 -FIG. 14 , the reselection parameters for mobile cells maycomprise a timer value, T_(reselectionVMR). The timer may be used todifferentiate a likelihood of reselecting a mobile cell from alikelihood of reselecting a stationary cell. The timer may also be usedto differentiate a likelihood of a wireless terminal in a vehiclereselecting a mobile cell mounted on the vehicle which carries thewireless terminal, from a likelihood of a wireless terminal not in thevehicle reselecting the mobile cell. In the scenario of FIG. 11 , if thewireless terminal 116 rides and stays on the vehicle which carries themobile base station relay 112, it is expected that the signal from themobile base station relay 112 may be stable for relatively long time,whereas when the wireless terminal 116 is outside of the vehicle thatcarries the mobile base station relay 112, the wireless terminal 116will eventually lose the signal as the vehicle moves away. Therefore, ina typical deployment scenario, T_(reselectionVMR) may be set longer thanT_(reselectionNR), or T_(reselec-tionEUTRA), encouraging wirelessterminals in the vehicle to reselect a “mobile” cell while discouragingwireless terminals outside of the vehicle.

In another exemplary implementation, the reselection parameters formobile cells may comprise one or more offset values. For example, in acase that a neighboring cell is “mobile”, e.g., the cell 114 while thewireless terminal is camping on the cell 104 a, an offset value Q_(VMRn)may be applied to the cell reselection criterion R a in Listing 1 asfollows:

R _(n) =Q _(meas,n) −Qoffset−Qoffset_(temp) −Q _(VMRn)

Accordingly, the wireless terminal 116 is likely to reselect a “mobile”cell only when the signal strength/quality from the cell is strongenough.

-   -   Additionally, or alternatively, in a case that a serving cell is        mobile, e.g., the cell 114 is a serving cell of the wireless        terminal 116, one or more offset values for encouraging the        wireless terminal 116 to stay camping on the mobile serving        cell, e.g., the cell 114, may be configured as a part of the        reselection parameters for mobile cells. For example, an offset        value Q_(VMRs) may be used for the cell reselection criterion        R_(s) in Listing 1 as follows:

R _(s) =Q _(meas,s) +Q _(hyst)−Qoffset_(temp) +Q _(VMRs)

In doing so, once it has reselected the cell 114, the wireless terminal116 is likely to stay on camping the cell 114.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing example representative steps or actsperformed by a wireless terminal 116 of the example embodiment and modeof FIG. 11 -FIG. 14 . Act 13-1 comprises camping on a serving cell. Act13-2 comprises receiving a cell reselection configuration from theserving cell. Act 13-3 comprises receiving cell mobility information,comprising an indication indicating whether or not at least onetransmission and reception point (TRP) serving a corresponding cellgeographically moves. Act 13-4 comprises performing a cell reselectionprocedure to determine, based on the cell reselection configuration andthe cell mobility information, whether or not to reselect a neighboringcell. Act 13-4 may be performed by cell reselection controller 530. Inone example implementation, the corresponding cell is the serving cell.In this example implementation in which the corresponding cell is theserving cell, the cell mobility information may be received from theserving cell. In another example implementation, the corresponding cellis the neighboring cell. In this example implementation in which thecorresponding cell is the neighboring cell, the cell mobilityinformation may be received either from the serving cell or theneighboring cell. In addition, the cell reselection configuration maycomprise one or more parameters designated for evaluating thecorresponding cell during the cell reselection procedure.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing example representative steps or actsperformed by an access node, such as the mobile base station relay 112of FIG. 11 or a stationary/fixed base station such as the donor gNB 104a/104 b of FIG. 11 , which communicates with a wireless terminal such asthe wireless terminal 116 of FIG. 11 . Act 14-1 comprises generating acell reselection configuration and cell mobility information. The cellmobility information may be either or both of the serving cell mobilityinformation, as disclosed in the example embodiment and mode of FIG. 3-FIG. 6 , and the neighboring cell mobility information as disclosed inthe example embodiment and mode of FIG. 7 -FIG. 10 . The information ofact 14-1 may be generated at Donor gNB 104 a by the cell mobility stateinformation generator 500A and the cell reselection configurationinformation generator 502A, and/or at mobile base station relay 112 bythe cell mobility state information generator 500B and the cellreselection configuration information generator 502B.

Act 14-2 comprises transmitting, in a serving cell, the cell reselectionconfiguration and the cell mobility information. The cell reselectionconfiguration and the cell mobility information may be used by thewireless terminal to perform a cell reselection procedure to determinewhether or not the wireless terminal reselects a neighboring cell. Inother words, the cell reselection configuration and the cell mobilityinformation are configured to be used by the wireless terminal toperform a cell reselection procedure to determine whether or not thewireless terminal reselects a neighboring cell. Furthermore, themobility state may comprise an indication indicating whether or not atleast one transmission and reception point (TRP) serving a correspondingcell geographically moves. The corresponding cell may be either theserving cell or the neighboring cell. In addition, the cell reselectionconfiguration may comprise one or more parameters designated forevaluating the corresponding cell during the cell reselection procedure.

5.0 FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Thus in one of its example aspects the technology disclosed hereininvolves structure and operation of mobile base station relays and nodesoperating in conjunction therewith, including but not limited to thefollowing: An access node serving a cell transmits serving cell mobilityinformation comprising mobility state of the cell. A wireless terminaluses the serving cell mobility information to detect the mobility of thecell.

An access node serving a cell transmits neighboring cell mobilityinformation comprising mobility state of a neighboring cell. A wirelessterminal uses the neighboring cell mobility information to detect themobility of the neighboring cell.

The serving cell mobility information and/or the neighboring cellmobility information is used for a cell reselection procedure based onmobility state of the serving cell and/or the neighboring cell.

It should be understood that the various foregoing example embodimentsand modes may be utilized in conjunction with one or more exampleembodiments and modes described herein.

Certain units and functionalities of the systems 100 may be implementedby electronic machinery. For example, electronic machinery may refer tothe processor circuitry described herein, such as terminal processorcircuitry 290, mobile station relay processor 200, and node processor(s)424. Moreover, the term “processor circuitry” is not limited to mean oneprocessor, but may include plural processors, with the plural processorsoperating at one or more sites. Moreover, as used herein the term“server” is not confined to one server unit, but may encompasses pluralservers and/or other electronic equipment, and may be co-located at onesite or distributed to different sites. With these understandings, FIG.15 shows an example of electronic machinery, e.g., processor circuitry,as comprising one or more processors 1090, program instruction memory1092; other memory 1094 (e.g., RAM, cache, etc.); input/outputinterfaces 1096 and 1097, peripheral interfaces 1098; support circuits1099; and busses 1400 for communication between the aforementionedunits. The processor(s) 1090 may comprise the processor circuitriesdescribed herein, for example, terminal processor circuitry 290, nodeprocessor circuitry 424, and mobile station relay processor 200.

A memory or register described herein may be depicted by memory 394, orany computer-readable medium, may be one or more of readily availablememory such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM),floppy disk, hard disk, flash memory or any other form of digitalstorage, local or remote, and is preferably of non-volatile nature, asand such may comprise memory. The support circuits 1099 are coupled tothe processors 1090 for supporting the processor in a conventionalmanner. These circuits include cache, power supplies, clock circuits,input/output circuitry and subsystems, and the like.

Although the processes and methods of the disclosed embodiments may bediscussed as being implemented as a software routine, some of the methodsteps that are disclosed therein may be performed in hardware as well asby a processor running software. As such, the embodiments may beimplemented in software as executed upon a computer system, in hardwareas an application specific integrated circuit or other type of hardwareimplementation, or a combination of software and hardware. The softwareroutines of the disclosed embodiments are capable of being executed onany computer operating system, and is capable of being performed usingany CPU architecture.

The functions of the various elements including functional blocks,including but not limited to those labeled or described as “computer”,“processor” or “controller”, may be provided through the use of hardwaresuch as circuit hardware and/or hardware capable of executing softwarein the form of coded instructions stored on computer readable medium.Thus, such functions and illustrated functional blocks are to beunderstood as being either hardware-implemented and/orcomputer-implemented, and thus machine-implemented.

In terms of hardware implementation, the functional blocks may includeor encompass, without limitation, digital signal processor (DSP)hardware, reduced instruction set processor, hardware (e.g., digital oranalog) circuitry including but not limited to application specificintegrated circuit(s) [ASIC], and/or field programmable gate array(s)(FPGA(s)), and (where appropriate) state machines capable of performingsuch functions.

In terms of computer implementation, a computer is generally understoodto comprise one or more processors or one or more controllers, and theterms computer and processor and controller may be employedinterchangeably herein. When provided by a computer or processor orcontroller, the functions may be provided by a single dedicated computeror processor or controller, by a single shared computer or processor orcontroller, or by a plurality of individual computers or processors orcontrollers, some of which may be shared or distributed. Moreover, useof the term “processor” or “controller” may also be construed to referto other hardware capable of performing such functions and/or executingsoftware, such as the example hardware recited above.

Nodes that communicate using the air interface also have suitable radiocommunications circuitry. Moreover, the technology disclosed herein mayadditionally be considered to be embodied entirely within any form ofcomputer-readable memory, such as solid-state memory, magnetic disk, oroptical disk containing an appropriate set of computer instructions thatwould cause a processor to carry out the techniques described herein.

Moreover, each functional block or various features of the wirelessterminal 30 and Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) nodes employed ineach of the aforementioned embodiments may be implemented or executed bycircuitry, which is typically an integrated circuit or a plurality ofintegrated circuits. The circuitry designed to execute the functionsdescribed in the present specification may comprise a general-purposeprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific orgeneral application integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gatearray (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gates ortransistor logic, or a discrete hardware component, or a combinationthereof. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, oralternatively, the processor may be a conventional processor, acontroller, a microcontroller or a state machine. The general-purposeprocessor or each circuit described above may be configured by a digitalcircuit or may be configured by an analogue circuit. Further, when atechnology of making into an integrated circuit superseding integratedcircuits at the present time appears due to advancement of asemiconductor technology, the integrated circuit by this technology isalso able to be used.

It will be appreciated that the technology disclosed herein is directedto solving radio communications-centric issues and is necessarily rootedin computer technology and overcomes problems specifically arising inradio communications. Moreover, the technology disclosed herein improvescell selection in a communications system, and may do so by taking cellmobility information into consideration.

The technology disclosed herein encompasses one or more of the followingnonlimiting, non-exclusive example embodiments and modes:

Example Embodiment 1: A wireless terminal of a cellulartelecommunication system, the wireless terminal communicating with anaccess node via a cell, the wireless terminal comprising:

receiver circuitry configured to receive, from the cell, serving cellmobility information, and;

processor circuitry configured to determine, based on the serving cellmobility information, mobility state of the cell.

Example Embodiment 2: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 1,wherein the mobility state comprises an indication indicating whether ornot at least one transmission and reception point (TRP) serving the cellgeographically moves.

Example Embodiment 3: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 1,wherein the mobility state comprises a speed.

Example Embodiment 4: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 1,wherein the mobility state comprises a direction.

Example Embodiment 5: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 1,wherein the mobility state comprises a position of the serving cell.

Example Embodiment 6: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 1,wherein the serving cell mobility information is included in abroadcasted signal(s).

Example Embodiment 7: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 6,wherein the serving cell mobility information is included in a masterinformation block (MIB).

Example Embodiment 8: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 6,wherein the serving cell mobility information is included in a systeminformation block (SIB).

Example Embodiment 9: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 6,wherein the serving cell mobility information is included in a primarysynchronization signal (PSS) and a secondary synchronization signal(SSS).

Example Embodiment 10: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 9,wherein the mobility state is determined based whether or not a physicalcell identity (PCI) decoded in the PSS and the SSS is included in a setof reserved PCIs.

Example Embodiment 11: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 10,wherein the set of reserved PCI(s) is pre-determined.

Example Embodiment 12: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 10,wherein the set of reserved PCI(s) is pre-configured to the wirelessterminal.

Example Embodiment 13: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 10,wherein the set of reserved PCI(s) is configured to the wirelessterminal by the access node.

Example Embodiment 14: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 1,wherein the serving cell mobility information is included in a signaldedicated to the wireless terminal.

Example Embodiment 15: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 14,wherein a radio resource control (RRC) message is used for the signaldedicated to the wireless terminal.

Example Embodiment 16: An access node of a cellular telecommunicationsystem, the access node serving a wireless terminal via a cell, theaccess node comprising:

processor circuitry configured to generate serving cell mobilityinformation;

transmitter circuitry configured to transmit, via the cell, the servingcell mobility information, wherein;

the serving cell mobility information is configured to be used by thewireless terminal to determine mobility state of the cell.

Example Embodiment 17: The access node of Example Embodiment 16, whereinthe mobility state comprises an indication indicating whether or not atleast one transmission and reception point (TRP) serving the cellgeographically moves.

Example Embodiment 18: The access node of Example Embodiment 16, whereinthe mobility state comprises a speed.

Example Embodiment 19: The access node of Example Embodiment 16, whereinthe mobility state comprises a direction.

Example Embodiment 20: The access node of Example Embodiment 16, whereinthe mobility state comprises a position of the serving cell.

Example Embodiment 21: The access node of Example Embodiment 16, whereinthe serving cell mobility information is included in a broadcastedsignal(s).

Example Embodiment 22: The access node of Example Embodiment 21, whereinthe serving cell mobility information is included in a masterinformation block (MIB).

Example Embodiment 23: The access node of Example Embodiment 21, whereinthe serving cell mobility information is included in a systeminformation block (SIB).

Example Embodiment 24: The access node of Example Embodiment 21, whereinthe serving cell mobility information is included in a primarysynchronization signal (PSS) and a secondary synchronization signal(SSS).

Example Embodiment 25: The access node of Example Embodiment 24, whereinthe mobility state is determined whether or not a physical cell identity(PCI) decoded in the PSS and the SSS is included in a set of reservedPCIs.

Example Embodiment 26: The access node of Example Embodiment 25, whereinthe set of reserved PCI(s) is pre-determined.

Example Embodiment 27: The access node of Example Embodiment 25, whereinthe set of reserved PCI(s) is pre-configured to the wireless terminal.

Example Embodiment 28: The access node of Example Embodiment 25, whereinthe set of reserved PCI(s) is configured to the wireless terminal by theaccess node.

Example Embodiment 29: The access node of Example Embodiment 16, whereinthe serving cell mobility information is included in a signal dedicatedto the wireless terminal.

Example Embodiment 30: The access node of Example Embodiment 29, whereina radio resource control (RRC) message is used for the signal dedicatedto the wireless terminal.

Example Embodiment 31: A method for a wireless terminal of a cellulartelecommunication system, the wireless terminal communicating with anaccess node via a cell, the method comprising:

receiving, from the cell, serving cell mobility information, and;

determining, based on the serving cell mobility information, mobilitystate of the cell.

Example Embodiment 32: The method of Example Embodiment 31, wherein themobility state comprises an indication indicating whether or not atleast one transmission and reception point (TRP) serving the cellgeographically moves.

Example Embodiment 33: The method of Example Embodiment 31, wherein themobility state comprises a speed.

Example Embodiment 34: The method of Example Embodiment 31, wherein themobility state comprises a direction.

Example Embodiment 35: The method of Example Embodiment 31, wherein themobility state comprises a position of the serving cell.

Example Embodiment 36: The method of Example Embodiment 31, wherein theserving cell mobility information is included in a broadcastedsignal(s).

Example Embodiment 37: The method of Example Embodiment 36, wherein theserving cell mobility information is included in a master informationblock (MIB).

Example Embodiment 38: The method of Example Embodiment 36, wherein theserving cell mobility information is included in a system informationblock (SIB).

Example Embodiment 39: The method of Example Embodiment 36, wherein theserving cell mobility information is included in a primarysynchronization signal (PSS) and a secondary synchronization signal(SSS).

Example Embodiment 40: The method of Example Embodiment 39, wherein themobility state is determined based whether or not a physical cellidentity (PCI) decoded in the PSS and the SSS is included in a set ofreserved PCIs.

Example Embodiment 41: The method of Example Embodiment 40, wherein theset of reserved PCI(s) is pre-determined.

Example Embodiment 42: The method of Example Embodiment 40, wherein theset of reserved PCI(s) is pre-configured to the wireless terminal.

Example Embodiment 43: The method of Example Embodiment 40, wherein theset of reserved PCI(s) is configured to the wireless terminal by theaccess node.

Example Embodiment 44: The method of Example Embodiment 31, wherein theserving cell mobility information is included in a signal dedicated tothe wireless terminal.

Example Embodiment 45: The method of Example Embodiment 44, wherein aradio resource control (RRC) message is used for the signal dedicated tothe wireless terminal.

Example Embodiment 46: A method for an access node of a cellulartelecommunication system, the access node serving a wireless terminalvia a cell, the method comprising:

generating serving cell mobility information;

transmitting, via the cell, the serving cell mobility information,wherein;

the serving cell mobility information is configured to be used by thewireless terminal to determine mobility state of the cell.

Example Embodiment 47: The method of Example Embodiment 46, wherein themobility state comprises an indication indicating whether or not atleast one transmission and reception point (TRP) serving the cellgeographically moves.

Example Embodiment 48: The method of Example Embodiment 46, wherein themobility state comprises a speed.

Example Embodiment 49: The method of Example Embodiment 46, wherein themobility state comprises a direction.

Example Embodiment 50: The method of Example Embodiment 46, wherein themobility state comprises a position of the serving cell.

Example Embodiment 51: The method of Example Embodiment 46, wherein theserving cell mobility information is included in a broadcastedsignal(s).

Example Embodiment 52: The method of Example Embodiment 51, wherein theserving cell mobility information is included in a master informationblock (MIB).

Example Embodiment 53: The method of Example Embodiment 51, wherein theserving cell mobility information is included in a system informationblock (SIB).

Example Embodiment 54: The method of Example Embodiment 51, wherein theserving cell mobility information is included in a primarysynchronization signal (PSS) and a secondary synchronization signal(SSS).

Example Embodiment 55: The method of Example Embodiment 54, wherein themobility state is determined whether or not a physical cell identity(PCI) decoded in the PSS and the SSS is included in a set of reservedPCIs.

Example Embodiment 56: The method of Example Embodiment 55, wherein theset of reserved PCI(s) is pre-determined.

Example Embodiment 57: The method of Example Embodiment 55, wherein theset of reserved PCI(s) is pre-configured to the wireless terminal.

Example Embodiment 58: The method of Example Embodiment 55, wherein theset of reserved PCI(s) is configured to the wireless terminal by theaccess node.

Example Embodiment 59: The method of Example Embodiment 46, wherein theserving cell mobility information is included in a signal dedicated tothe wireless terminal.

Example Embodiment 60: The method of 59, wherein a radio resourcecontrol (RRC) message is used for the signal dedicated to the wirelessterminal.

Example Embodiment 61: A wireless terminal of a cellulartelecommunication system, the wireless terminal comprising:

receiver circuitry configured to receive, from a serving cell,neighboring cell mobility information, the neighboring cell mobilityinformation being associated with an identity of a neighboring cell;

processor circuitry configured to determine, based on the neighboringcell mobility information, mobility state of the neighboring cell.

Example Embodiment 62: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 61,wherein the mobility state comprises an indication indicating whether ornot at least one transmission and reception point (TRP) serving theneighboring cell geographically moves.

Example Embodiment 63: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 61,wherein the mobility state comprises a speed.

Example Embodiment 64: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 61,wherein the mobility state comprises a direction.

Example Embodiment 65: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 61,wherein the mobility state comprises a position of the correspondingneighboring cell.

Example Embodiment 66: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 61,wherein the neighboring cell mobility information is included in one ormore system information blocks (SIBs).

Example Embodiment 67: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 61,wherein the neighboring cell mobility information is included in asignal dedicated to the wireless terminal.

Example Embodiment 68: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 67,wherein a radio resource control (RRC) message is used for the signaldedicated to the wireless terminal.

Example Embodiment 69: An access node of a cellular telecommunicationsystem, the access node communicating with a wireless terminal, theaccess node comprising:

processor circuitry configured to generate neighboring cell mobilityinformation, the neighboring cell mobility association being associatedwith an identity of a neighboring cell;

transmitter circuitry configured to transmit, to the wireless terminal,the neighboring cell mobility information, wherein;

the neighboring cell mobility information is configured to be used bythe wireless terminal to determine mobility state of the neighboringcell.

Example Embodiment 70: The access node of Example Embodiment 69, whereinthe mobility state comprises an indication indicating whether or not atleast one transmission and reception point (TRP) serving the neighboringcell geographically moves.

Example Embodiment 71: The access node of Example Embodiment 69, whereinthe mobility state comprises a speed.

Example Embodiment 72: The access node of Example Embodiment 69, whereinthe mobility state comprises a direction.

Example Embodiment 73: The access node of Example Embodiment 69, whereinthe mobility state comprises a position of the neighboring cell.

Example Embodiment 74: The access node of Example Embodiment 69, whereinthe neighboring cell mobility information is included in one or moresystem information blocks (SIBs).

Example Embodiment 75: The access node of Example Embodiment 69, whereinthe neighboring cell mobility information is included in a signaldedicated to the wireless terminal.

Example Embodiment 76: The access node of Example Embodiment 75, whereina radio resource control (RRC) message is used for the signal dedicatedto the wireless terminal.

Example Embodiment 77: A method for a wireless terminal of a cellulartelecommunication system, the method comprising:

receiving, from a serving cell, neighboring cell mobility information,the neighboring cell mobility information being associated with anidentity of a neighboring cell;

determining, based on the neighboring cell mobility information,mobility state of the neighboring cell.

Example Embodiment 78: The method of Example Embodiment 77, wherein themobility state comprises an indication indicating whether or not atleast one transmission and reception point (TRP) serving the neighboringcell geographically moves.

Example Embodiment 79: The method of Example Embodiment 77, wherein themobility state comprises a speed.

Example Embodiment 80: The method of Example Embodiment 77, wherein themobility state comprises a direction.

Example Embodiment 81: The method of Example Embodiment 77, wherein themobility state comprises a position of the corresponding neighboringcell.

Example Embodiment 82: The method of Example Embodiment 77, wherein theneighboring cell mobility information is included in one or more systeminformation blocks (SIB s).

Example Embodiment 83: The method of Example Embodiment 77, wherein theneighboring cell mobility information is included in a signal dedicatedto the wireless terminal.

Example Embodiment 84: The method of Example Embodiment 83, wherein aradio resource control (RRC) message is used for the signal dedicated tothe wireless terminal.

Example Embodiment 85: A method for an access node of a cellulartelecommunication system, the access node communicating with a wirelessterminal, the method comprising:

generating neighboring cell mobility information, the neighboring cellmobility association being associated with an identity of a neighboringcell;

transmitting, to the wireless terminal, the neighboring cell mobilityinformation, wherein;

the neighboring cell mobility information is configured to be used bythe wireless terminal to determine mobility state of the neighboringcell.

Example Embodiment 86: The method of Example Embodiment 85, wherein themobility state comprises an indication indicating whether or not atleast one transmission and reception point (TRP) serving the neighboringcell geographically moves.

Example Embodiment 87: The method of Example Embodiment 85, wherein themobility state comprises a speed.

Example Embodiment 88: The method of Example Embodiment 85, wherein themobility state comprises a direction.

Example Embodiment 89: The method of Example Embodiment 85, wherein themobility state comprises a position of the neighboring cell.

Example Embodiment 90: The method of Example Embodiment 85, wherein theneighboring cell mobility information is included in one or more systeminformation blocks (SIB s).

Example Embodiment 91: The method of Example Embodiment 85, wherein theneighboring cell mobility information is included in a signal dedicatedto the wireless terminal.

Example Embodiment 92: The method of Example Embodiment 91, wherein aradio resource control (RRC) message is used for the signal dedicated tothe wireless terminal.

Example Embodiment 93: A wireless terminal of a cellulartelecommunication system, the wireless terminal comprising:

processor circuitry configured to camp on a serving cell

receiver circuitry configured to receive:

a cell reselection configuration from the serving cell, and;

cell mobility information;

the processor circuitry further configured to perform a cell reselectionprocedure to determine, based on the cell reselection configuration andthe cell mobility information, whether or not to reselect a neighboringcell, wherein;

the cell mobility information indicates mobility state of acorresponding cell.

Example Embodiment 94: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 93,wherein the corresponding cell is the serving cell.

Example Embodiment 95: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 94,wherein the cell mobility information is received from the serving cell.

Example Embodiment 96: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 93,wherein the corresponding is the neighboring cell.

Example Embodiment 97: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 96,wherein the cell mobility information is received from the serving cell.

Example Embodiment 98: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 96,wherein the cell mobility information is received from the neighboringcell.

Example Embodiment 99: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 93,wherein the mobility state indicates whether or not at least onetransmission and reception point (TRP) serving the corresponding cellgeographically moves.

Example Embodiment 100: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 93,wherein the cell reselection configuration comprises one or moreparameters designated for evaluating the corresponding cell during thecell reselection procedure.

Example Embodiment 101: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 100,wherein the one or more parameters comprise one or more cell reselectiontimer.

Example Embodiment 102: The wireless terminal of Example Embodiment 100,wherein the one or more parameters comprise one or more offset values.

Example Embodiment 103: An access node of a cellular telecommunicationsystem, the access node serving a wireless terminal via a serving cell,the access node comprising:

-   -   processor circuitry configured to generate:    -   a cell reselection configuration, and;    -   cell mobility information;    -   transmitter circuitry configured to transmit, in the serving        cell, the cell reselection configuration and the cell mobility        information, wherein;    -   the cell reselection configuration and the cell mobility        information are used by the wireless terminal to perform a cell        reselection procedure to determine whether or not the wireless        terminal reselects a neighboring cell, and;    -   the cell mobility information indicates mobility state of a        corresponding cell.

Example Embodiment 104: The access node of Example Embodiment 103,wherein the corresponding cell is the serving cell.

Example Embodiment 105: The access node of Example Embodiment 103,wherein the corresponding cell is the neighboring cell.

Example Embodiment 106: The access node of Example Embodiment 103,wherein the mobility state indicates whether or not at least onetransmission and reception point (TRP) serving the corresponding cellgeographically moves.

Example Embodiment 107: The access node of Example Embodiment 103,wherein the cell reselection configuration comprises one or moreparameters designated for evaluating the corresponding cell during thecell reselection procedure.

Example Embodiment 108: The access node of Example Embodiment 107,wherein the one or more parameters comprise one or more cell reselectiontimer.

Example Embodiment 109: The access node of Example Embodiment 107,wherein the one or more parameters comprise one or more offset values.

Example Embodiment 110: A method for a wireless terminal of a cellulartelecommunication system, the method comprising:

camping on a serving cell

receiving:

a cell reselection configuration from the serving cell, and;

cell mobility information;

performing a cell reselection procedure to determine, based on the cellreselection configuration and the cell mobility information, whether ornot to reselect a neighboring cell, wherein;

the cell mobility information indicates mobility state of acorresponding cell.

Example Embodiment 111: The method of Example Embodiment 110, whereinthe corresponding cell is the serving cell.

Example Embodiment 112: The method of Example Embodiment 111, whereinthe cell mobility information is received from the serving cell.

Example Embodiment 113: The method of Example Embodiment 110, whereinthe corresponding is the neighboring cell.

Example Embodiment 114: The method of Example Embodiment 113, whereinthe cell mobility information is received from the serving cell.

Example Embodiment 115: The method of Example Embodiment 113, whereinthe cell mobility information is received from the neighboring cell.

Example Embodiment 116: The method of Example Embodiment 110, whereinthe mobility state indicates whether or not at least one transmissionand reception point (TRP) serving the corresponding cell geographicallymoves.

Example Embodiment 117: The method of Example Embodiment 110, whereinthe cell reselection configuration comprises one or more parametersdesignated for evaluating the corresponding cell during the cellreselection procedure.

Example Embodiment 118: The method of Example Embodiment 117, whereinthe one or more parameters comprise one or more cell reselection timer.

Example Embodiment 119: The method of Example Embodiment 117, whereinthe one or more parameters comprise one or more offset values.

Example Embodiment 120: A method for an access node of a cellulartelecommunication system, the access node serving a wireless terminalvia a serving cell, the method comprising:

generating:

a cell reselection configuration, and;

cell mobility information;

transmitting, in the serving cell, the cell reselection configurationand the cell mobility information, wherein;

the cell reselection configuration and the cell mobility information areused by the wireless terminal to perform a cell reselection procedure todetermine whether or not the wireless terminal reselects a neighboringcell, and;

the cell mobility information indicates mobility state of acorresponding cell.

Example Embodiment 121: The method of Example Embodiment 120, whereinthe corresponding cell is the serving cell.

Example Embodiment 122: The method of Example Embodiment 120, whereinthe corresponding cell is the neighboring cell.

Example Embodiment 123: The method of Example Embodiment 120, whereinthe mobility state indicates whether or not at least one transmissionand reception point (TRP) serving the corresponding cell geographicallymoves.

Example Embodiment 124: The method of Example Embodiment 120, whereinthe cell reselection configuration comprises one or more parametersdesignated for evaluating the corresponding cell during the cellreselection procedure.

Example Embodiment 125: The method of Example Embodiment 124, whereinthe one or more parameters comprise one or more cell reselection timer.

Example Embodiment 126: The method of Example Embodiment 125, whereinthe one or more parameters comprise one or more offset values.

One or more of the following 3GPP SA1 #92-e documents may be pertinentto the technology disclosed herein (all of which are incorporated hereinby reference in their entirety):

-   S1-204109 Use Case: Optimizing mobility for UEs, LG Electronics    Inc., Qualcomm Incorporated-   S1-204110 Use Case: VMR load balancing, LG Electronics Inc.,    Qualcomm Incorporated-   S1-204149 Use case for multiple working modes of vehicle mounted    base station CATT-   S1-204150 Use case for continuous connection via bus mounted base    station CATT-   S1-204151 Use case for authorization and configuration for car    mounted base station CATT-   S1-204176 FS_VMR-Use Case-Provide Location service to a UE attached    to the relay mounted in the vehicle Beijing Xiaomi Electronics-   S1-204220 TR scope Qualcomm Incorporated-   S1-204221 Text proposal for Overview section Qualcomm Incorporated-   S1-204222 Use case: support of relay operation, activation and basic    configuration Qualcomm Incorporated-   S1-204223 Use case: access control, permission and policies Qualcomm    Incorporated-   S1-204235 Use case: access control, app based user authorization    Qualcomm Incorporated-   S1-204236 Use case: mobility between macro and relay—user outside    vehicle Qualcomm Incorporated-   S1-204237 Use case: mobility between macro and relay, user    entering-leaving vehicle Qualcomm Incorporated-   S1-204238 Use case: mobility between relays, user outside vehicle    Qualcomm Incorporated-   S1-204239 Use case: mobility between relays, user inside vehicle    Qualcomm Incorporated-   S1-204240 Use case: mobility of relay between macro, user outside    vehicle Qualcomm Incorporated-   S1-204241 Use case: mobility of relay between macro, user inside    vehicle Qualcomm Incorporated-   S1-204242 Use case: incentives and charging Qualcomm Incorporated-   S1-204243 Draft TP for section on Other considerations Qualcomm    Incorporated-   S1-204244 TR skeleton Qualcomm Incorporated

One or more of the following patent documents may be pertinent to thetechnology disclosed herein (all of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety):

-   U.S. Pat. No. 9,924,439-   JP4730565-   CN104796961-   EP2708063

Although the description above contains many specificities, these shouldnot be construed as limiting the scope of the technology disclosedherein but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presentlypreferred embodiments of the technology disclosed herein. Thus the scopeof the technology disclosed herein should be determined by the appendedclaims and their legal equivalents. Therefore, it will be appreciatedthat the scope of the technology disclosed herein fully encompassesother embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art,and that the scope of the technology disclosed herein is accordingly tobe limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which referenceto an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one”unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” Theabove-described embodiments could be combined with one another. Allstructural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of theabove-described preferred embodiment that are known to those of ordinaryskill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and areintended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is notnecessary for a device or method to address each and every problemsought to be solved by the technology disclosed herein, for it to beencompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component,or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated tothe public regardless of whether the element, component, or method stepis explicitly recited in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless terminal of a cellulartelecommunication system, the wireless terminal communicating with anaccess node via a cell, the wireless terminal comprising: receivercircuitry configured to receive, from the cell, serving cell mobilityinformation, and; processor circuitry configured to determine, based onthe serving cell mobility information, mobility state of the cell. 2.The wireless terminal of claim 1, wherein the mobility state comprisesan indication indicating whether or not at least one transmission andreception point (TRP) serving the cell geographically moves.
 3. Thewireless terminal of claim 1, wherein the serving cell mobilityinformation is included in a broadcasted signal(s).
 4. The wirelessterminal of claim 1, wherein the mobility state is determined basedwhether or not a physical cell identity (PCI) of the cell decoded in aprimary synchronization signal (PSS) and a secondary synchronizationsignal (SSS) is included in a set of reserved PCIs.
 5. The wirelessterminal of claim 4, wherein the set of reserved PCI(s) is configured tothe wireless terminal by the access node.
 6. The wireless terminal ofclaim 1, wherein the serving cell mobility information is included in asignal dedicated to the wireless terminal.
 7. An access node of acellular telecommunication system, the access node serving a wirelessterminal via a cell, the access node comprising: processor circuitryconfigured to generate serving cell mobility information; transmittercircuitry configured to transmit, via the cell, the serving cellmobility information, wherein; the serving cell mobility information isconfigured to be used by the wireless terminal to determine mobilitystate of the cell.
 8. The access node of claim 7, wherein the mobilitystate comprises an indication indicating whether or not at least onetransmission and reception point (TRP) serving the cell geographicallymoves.
 9. The access node of claim 7, wherein the serving cell mobilityinformation is included in a broadcasted signal(s).
 10. The access nodeof claim 9, wherein the mobility state is determined whether or not aphysical cell identity (PCI) of the cell decoded in a primarysynchronization signal (PSS) and a secondary synchronization signal(SSS) is included in a set of reserved PCIs.
 11. The access node ofclaim 10, wherein the set of reserved PCI(s) is configured to thewireless terminal by the access node.
 12. The access node of claim 7,wherein the serving cell mobility information is included in a signaldedicated to the wireless terminal.
 13. A method for a wireless terminalof a cellular telecommunication system, the wireless terminalcommunicating with an access node via a cell, the method comprising:receiving, from the cell, serving cell mobility information, and;determining, based on the serving cell mobility information, mobilitystate of the cell.